Ever since Google announced its intent to purchase Motorola Mobility, several Android device manufacturers have been a bit uneasy about what this move could mean for their future business. Though statements released by these manufacturers immediately after the acquisition announcement were all relatively positive, these companies are still worried about how Google entering the hardware business will impact them.

In a move to reassure these key Android partners, Google Chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt again stated that Google will not give preferential treatment to Motorola after the deal goes through.

In general, with all of our partners, we told them that the Motorola deal will close and we will run it sufficiently and independently, that it will not violate the openness of Android...We're not going to change in any material way the way we operate.Eric SchmidtGoogle

If nothing else, it’s becoming more and more clear that Google’s motivation for purchasing Motorola Mobility was mostly for the company’s patents rather than a solid move by Google into the hardware game. Google has committed to both HTC and Samsung specifically that it will aid them in the pending patent lawsuits these companies face against rival Apple, Inc.

When it comes to how Motorola Mobility will be integrated into Google once the deal closes, Mr. Schmidt suggested that the two companies would continue to operate largely independent of each other. We can only hope that this notion is only partially true, and that Google works closely with Motorola Mobility to put out stock/vanilla Android devices.

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The nexus line is supposedly demonstrating googles vision for android, but I suspect that the handset manufacturers own agendas impose a handicap (significant hw upgrades seem to come immediately after nexus releases). I also hope to see google influence Motorola to ship more stock/vanilla. It used to be the nexus line that demonstrated googles vision. Now it could be the Motorola line. I suspect that the other manufacturers aren’t all that interested in nexus phones anyway. They want to set their phones apart from the competition and to develop their own services to bring money in. They could develop apps and deliver through the market, but they choose to customize the os instead.

Yes. I think Motorola Mobility, being under the Google umbrella, should have a line of phones, purely AOSP and truly open, for those of us who care about OS updates and freedom. And by freedom I mean unlocked-everything where you decide if you run it rooted/custom/whatever or not.

This line does not need to have a lot of phones. Just a few, maybe one (two max) each year. Pick the best you have at the beginning of a hw generation and that’s it.

I tell you: just like the SoHo routers (defined by the original WRT54G and those that walked that path), it would sell well and really differentiate into a market segment.

Not many people need customization, but the early adopter geeks would give the word of mouth. I’d like to have an open Motorola. Their hardware is very good.

Moto Android phones should be stock, period. Even if Google operates Motorola independently, they are still one company, and they should have the same shared vision. It makes absolutely no sense for the OS side to promote certain things, but the hardware side does not implement it (ex, NFC.)

This is again where this whole “merger” thing makes no sense. Why would you still use Motoblur as a skin, if you didn’t have to? It (Motoblur) is hated almost as much as Symbian. Motorola handsets were/are losing market share to the likes of Samsung and HTC. So why then would one remain on the same path of losses and layoffs? Google knows as well as all of us, that a bad UI means a phone no one wants. How many more OG Atrix & Bionic would have sold with Vanilla Android? The people have spoken, Motoblur was voted of the island a while ago. If Google wants to waste money, I know some charities that would be better served with the money. Just saying.

Well for starters google just said they will still be working independently meaning motorola still have all their workers and plans..secondly don’t call me blur has improved immensely since the Droid x2 and 3 came out..the only problem with the custom ui as we all know is how fast can you upgrade it to the latest Android..at the end of the day motorola will.still get help.from google since their family now..

Meh… Android is just a fill in for now. Google have their eye set firmly on a chrome phone, and motorolla will build it. They are only working “independently” when it comes to android. In 5 years time when the net is faster then speedy Gonzales keep your eye out for a chrome phone.

Since 2009, Motorola Mobility has already laid off 3,500 employees and even after the acquisition by Google. Shareholders are very unhappy with this purchase. For users, the Motorola Mobility remains a device makers (and especially Android software in the background). It’s sad.